WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD PRAY ALWAYS?
(Luke 18:1) And he spake a parable unto them
to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
* INTRODUCTION:
a. The Lord Jesus Christ is the one spoke this encouragement to
Christians to pray always.
b. The Lord Jesus Christ spent much time in Praying .
( Matthew 26: 39-41
) [39]And he
went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father,
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but
as thou wilt.
[40]And he cometh unto the
disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not
watch with me one hour?
[41]Watch and pray, that ye enter
not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Jesus Is The Model Of Persistent Prayer.
* Jesus Often Withdrew From Crowds To Pray.
Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the
wilderness, and prayed.
* Jesus Prayed Before Choosing His Disciples.
* Luke 6:12 [12]And it came to pass in those
days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in
prayer to God.
[13]And when it was day, he called
unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named
apostles;
[14]Simon, (whom he also named
Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
[15]Matthew and Thomas, James the
son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
[16]And Judas the brother of
James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
* Jesus Prayed Before Teaching His Disciples On Prayer.
* Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he
was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto
him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
* Jesus Prayed Before Rising Lazarus From The Grave.
* Luke 11:41-42 [41]But rather give alms of such
things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
[42]But woe unto you, Pharisees!
for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and
the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other
undone.
* Jesus Prayed At The Garden Of Gethsemane.
*Luke 22:39-44 [39]And he came out, and went, as
he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
[40]And when he was at the place,
he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
[41]And he was withdrawn from them
about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
[42]Saying, Father, if thou be
willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
[43]And there appeared an angel
unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
[44]And being in an agony he
prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.
1. JERUSALEM CHURCH IS OUR GOOD MODEL IN PRAYING ALWAYS.
( Acts 1: 13-15 ) [13]And when they were come in,
they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John,
and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,
and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
[14]These all continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and with his brethren.
[15]And in those days Peter stood
up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were
about an hundred and twenty,)
2. PRAYING IS COMING TO GOD IN HIS HOLY THRONE OF GRACE.
(Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time
of need.
3. THE CHURCH PRACTICE PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING WHEN THE
CHURCH FACE GREAT TRIALS AND PERSECUTION.
( Acts 12: 1-5 ) [1]Now about that time Herod the
king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
[2]And he killed James the brother
of John with the sword.
[3]And because he saw it pleased
the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of
unleavened bread.)
[4]And when he had apprehended
him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to
keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
[5]Peter therefore was kept in
prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
4. PRAYER IS GOD'S BEST WEAPON TO OVERCOME THE ATTACT OF
SATAN TO GOD'S PEOPLE.
( Ephesians 6:10-18
) [10]Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
[11]Put on the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[12]For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
[13]Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand.
[14]Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
[15]And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the
shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
5. KING DAVID IS A PRAYERFUL CHRISTIAN IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT.
* King David prayed to God to protect him from the attack of our
spiritual enemy the Devil.
(Psalms 140:1-13)
*DELIVER ME FROM THE EVIL MAN.
[1]Deliver me, O LORD, from the
evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
[2]Which imagine mischiefs in
their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
[3]They have sharpened their
tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
* KEEP ME, O LORD FROM THE HANDS OF THE WICKED.
[4]Keep me, O LORD, from the hands
of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow
my goings.
[5]The proud have hid a snare for
me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for
me. Selah.
[6]I said unto the LORD, Thou art
my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
THOU HAST COVERED MY HEAD IN THE DAY OF BATTLE.
[7]O GOD the Lord, the strength of
my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
* GRANT NOT, O LORD THE DESIRES OF THE WICKED.
[8]Grant not, O LORD, the desires
of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves.
Selah.
LET THE MISCHIEF OF THEIR OWN LIPS COVER THEM.
[9]As for the head of those that
compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
* LET BURNING COALS FALL UOON THEM.
[10]Let burning coals fall upon
them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up
again.
* LET NOT AN EVIL SPEAKER BE STABLISHED IN THE EARTH.
[11]Let not an evil speaker be
established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
[12]I know that the LORD will
maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
[13]Surely the righteous shall
give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
* God bless you all always *
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